Until last year, I didn't have any critique partners. And I didn't have Beta readers other than local family and friends who read and enjoy my work.
A critique partner can certainly be a friend, and it's nice when critique partners are friends, but critique partners are, first and foremost, fellow writers who retain objectivity about your work and draw on that when and where needed.
I've always been something of a lone wolf, and I used to think, who needs critique partners... the most important judge of a writer's work is that writer herself.
Well... turns out that I was both right and wrong. On one hand, nobody knows a writer's characters better than that writer. Nobody knows a writer's story better than that writer. I stand by that belief. Never become so dependent on external validation that you lose sight of yourself. If you do, you'll become a puppet, always on other people's strings.
On the other hand, sometimes we writers are so close to our work that we lose objectivity. A good critique partner's eagle eyes, quick brain, and objective turn of mind can inspire revelations and give a writer tools to improve her work.
And oh, the inspiration and motivation critique partners can give to one another! It's a delight -- reading each other's work, talking back and forth about stories, characters, motivations, possibilities. I highly recommend that any serious writer have at least one trusted critique partner, ideally three or four. It's one of the best things we can do as writers. Writers helping writers: it's a beautiful thing. Who needs critique partners? I do!
I'm lucky to have a group of cherished, trusted critique partners. But just as people often go through less than fulfilling relationships before they find their sweetie-for-life, writers often have to weather less-than-satisfactory experiences before they find critique partners they can trust over the long haul on this sometimes-difficult writing road.
So here are my thoughts, based on the sum total of my experiences -- the good, the bad, and the ugly:
#1. As Aretha Franklin would put it, it's all about R-E-S-P-E-C-T. A good critique partner listens to you, even when they don't agree with you. Critique partners won't agree with each other on everything. Sometimes a critique partner will give feedback on your story with which you disagree, or they'll disagree with your feedback on their story. Sometimes the only thing to do is agree to disagree and move on. If someone keeps hounding you, that doesn't bode well for respect. Which leads me to...
#2. Personal attacks (i.e., "Your story and/or characters are/is wrong/flawed/hopeless, so that means you must be wrong/flawed/hopeless) are a HUGE no-no, no matter how "solicitously" (read: patronizingly) they're couched. Personal attacks are always way outside the bounds of friendship or critique partnership. Sadly, there are writers who resort to personal attacks -- whether overt attacks or subtle attacks -- out of sheer frustration that you aren't taking their feedback on your story as gospel. This is disrespectful, predatory behavior and should never be tolerated.
#3. There needs to be a workable combination of flexibility and accountability on both sides. The critique partners need to be flexible enough to bend with whatever life throws at them, yet they also need to figure out levels of accountability for their critique partnership. Some critique partners like to touch base often to discuss writing goals and activities. And other critique partners touch base when they have work ready for critique. There's no "right" way. The accountability level varies with each set of critique partners.
And last but never, ever least...
#4. Good critique partners are blessings, and it's important to let these special people know that you appreciate all the wonderful ways they help.
Writers, I'd love your thoughts on what makes a critique partnership really rock -- or not!
Monday, July 02, 2007
Critique Partners
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24 comments:
The other thing I would add is context.
I've been burned more than once by posting small bits of a larger work on a critique website, only to have my plot, characters and entire premise attacked, when all I asked for was a critique of dialogue, description or mood.
Now maybe it's just me, but if I've been told up front that I'm reading a scene that's about 50K words deep into a larger work, I'm not going to assume I can judge the entire plot arc based on those few paragraphs. But a stunning number of people actually think they CAN. (And the fools inevitably get it wrong, but have the nerve to get pissy if you try to tell them that.)
So no more posting excerpts at critique sites for me! I've gotten my best advice from beta readers, who have pointed out gaps and flaws that I would've never seen otherwise. Because they usually read a work in its entirety, they have a basis for critiquing the big picture, and I've rarely felt I was steered wrong.
Critique partners and beta readers are the only way to go!
Very good point about posting work on critique sites! I've posted query letters on critique sites but never excerpts of my novels. My reasoning was because I was too chicken, but after what you've said, I'm glad I never did. Good critique partners and beta readers are definitely the way to go! :)
I think the best critique partners are those who understand, at a really deep level, how subjective "good writing" is--yet also don't let that keep them from voicing their own opinions in a supportive way. When you start getting a consensus from more than one reader that something is great, or that something is awful, it's very helpful and powerful.
But in writing as in life, there are a lot of people who just can't imagine that there is any valid viewpoint but their own. They try to fake their way through critique etiquette, but they don't give or take feedback very well because they really don't believe anyone who disagrees with them could ever have a valid point.
There are a surprising number of otherwise intelligent people who have this flaw. So if you can find someone who has good critical thinking skills without the know it all attitude, you've got a winner!
Great subject for discussion.
Thanks, Crabby! You're so right, the magical combo in a critique partner is good critical thinking skills minus the know-it-all attitude. That know-it-all attitude will always put the quietus on a critique partner relationship, and I've had it happen to me in the past. I'm happy to be able to say that I wasn't the know-it-all in the incident and that I comported myself throughout with dignity and grace. Ah well, live and learn and grow tougher skin, like alligator hide. :)
Agree with bunny girl. Used to happen to me.
Wonderful post, Thomma Lyn.
I used to have a couple of critique partners in the past who were anything but, from "attacking" criticism as you put it to not being helpful at all to me or my WIP, clueless to what I need or am talking about.
Right now, I only have one amazing critique partner. She's an amazing friend and CP. The only thing worrying me is I'm not as good a CP to her as she is to me. Her name is Thomma Lyn by the way.
H & L & P!
This is timely for me. I just wrote several articles and dated them to be posted one every day of next week. The one for Thursday is about critiquing, so I'm going back right now and adding a link to your excellent advice.
I was in a critique group and for a while it was helpful, but it had this VICIOUS critiquer in it. She was nasty, horrible, we lost a lot of members (including me). Two people who left offered me to join their group and it was awesome, then I joined another large group and I have the two of them. The girls in the smaller group are definitely my main critiquers, I love them they are awesome.
Another reason I left the first is I find a lot of people try to change my voice. I can't have that, that's what makes my writing unique, and that is one thing I always hear from editors how much they like my voice.
That's what I like about my partners now, no voice changing, just discussion on characters and plot etc., No voice change, because we all don't sound the same and if we did that would be one boring world for sure!
Thomma I just love your post!! I have a few CP and Betas and I ADOOOOOOOOORE THEM!!
But definitely, critique partners can be the difference of submitting a near perfect book or completely quitting. You must find one that is suitable for you and whose opinion you deeply respect! =)
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned honesty. In order to be worthwhile a critic has to say what he or she honestly thinks of the work, both good and bad.
When writers first start out, I think they need to hear mostly good things in order to keep going. However, there comes a point where you need the unvarnished truth if you're going to get better.
Luckily for me, my wife is my best and most honest critic. She doesn't pull any punches or slather on the praise - and sometimes I wish she would!
I agree with Amy that it's important you find people who don't try to change your voice. I've encountered people whose comments seem to be based on making your writing sound more like their writing, which is no good for anyone, really.
I don't have actual critique partners, but this past year was my first in a writer's group. The group is very diverse - academic/creative non-fiction writers, a journalist, a few novelists/short story writers, and I've brought playwriting into the mix. I find that diversity very helpful, because it seems to better represent the intended audience.
The group is also diverse in terms of age, which is helpful for the same reason.
Hi, Sophisticated! Big hugs to you. Thank you so much for your sweet words, and please don't worry -- you are a wonderful CP, and I deeply appreciate you both as a CP and as a dear friend.
Hello, Lillie! Thank you so much for the link love. :) I look forward to reading your articles, and I'll check out the one about critiquing! It's such an important subject for us writers.
Oh goodness, Amy, that woman in your critique group sounds like she was a person who was a lot less interested in learning and growing as a writer than in being a bully with an ax to grind. People like that in a critique group can mess things up something fierce for everybody else. And yes, I agree, having a unique voice is crucial -- a distinctive voice is one of the best attributes a fiction writer can have.
Hi, Red! I'm glad you have a great group of CPs. And yes, they can make a tremendous difference in motivation and enthusiasm.
Hi, Jeff! Yes, definitely HONESTY. That's precisely what's wrong with not having critique partners -- a writer lacks people who can be objective in reviewing their work, and that objectivity is useless unless the critique partners are honest in the feedback they're giving. Honesty from CPs is precisely what makes critiquing activity such a powerful help for a writer to get better, to hone her skill, to learn more about what works and what doesn't. And that opens up another subject -- the fine art of giving and receiving honest, useful criticism. I think I might do a post on that next, because that's a whole subject in and of itself! :)
Hi, Marilyn! Yes, that doesn't do a writer any good when people try to change his/her voice -- suggestions for improvement are a great thing, but everybody sounding alike ain't so great. Another thing is people who demand that characters must conform to their prejudices and stereotypes -- just say no!
And you're right that it's good to have a diverse age range with Beta readers and/or critique partners! Sounds like you've found a great writing group. :)
I haven't got a critique partner although I'm sure they are of great value. The reason is plain and simple. I'm too scared! The idea of showing a story to someone before I've finished it brings me out in a cold sweat - and then once I've finished, I'm all cocky and who needs a critique partner anyway because the story is done! (And they might find something that should be changed and I'm so tired of the damn story by then!)
Consequently, the first person to see the story is the publisher which I know isn't ideal.
I suspect I'm going to have to brave these waters!
Hi, Dawn! I used to be too scared to have critique partners, too, LOL! I kind of transitioned gently into it, otherwise I'd probably still be too scared. :-D
And ugh, I hear ya on being tired of a story on the latter phases of editing and revision -- I get downright sick of mine after I've read them, oh, about a billion times, ha! ;-)
I've had good and bad critique partners. For me, a good critique partner is someone who listens to me. Someone I can say, "look, something isn't working in this story but I can't find it - help" and they can actually find it! And sometimes I just need someone to listen to me talk things out. That is a huge help.
Hi, Christine! Yes, someone who listens -- that's crucial, right up there with honesty. And listening is part and parcel of respect, which is also crucial to a critique partnership or a friendship.
I've had a couple of bad and/or hurtful experiences with critique partners, too. And in hindsight, those experiences have made me wiser as a writer/CP and have made me appreciate all the more the superduper CPs I have! :)
I have mixed feelings on this. Like Jeff said, honesty is hugely important. But like Amy says, viciousness is too often a factor. I wonder what would happen if the top 20 writers (in terms of sales) going right now were polled on this matter? Would all of them have critique partners and/or beta readers, or would at least some of them write without any kind of assistance?
Hi, Jim! Thank you so much for visiting and commenting. You pose a great question about whether the top twenty writers in terms of sales have beta readers and critique partners -- my guess would be that some of them do and some of them don't, for reasons all across the board.
My CPs really help me with seeing how audiences are going to perceive my book and my characters. Sometimes I'm just so darned close to my work that seeing it from a different perspective is very helpful for me. But the keys to a workable CP relationship are always honesty and respect -- I had one very hurtful experience with a CP, but I've also had some very good experiences which make up for that -- so for me, luckily, the good has outweighed the bad.
Finding the right critique partner, is much that same as choosing a partner for a long-term relationship. You ease into the relationship gradually - and figure out the rhythm - often, setting up parameters right up front - about what exactly you are looking for - works too. It's been some time since I've had a critique partner - probably because I had shelved my writing for so long now.
Thomma Lyn - thanks for another well written and engaging post.
And, a happy July 4th to you and yours!
Cheers, XINE
Thank you so much, XINE -- you are so right, finding critique partners you can work with is a matter of figuring out what works for you over the long haul, and finding people you can connect with over that long haul, not just in the euphoric first phase of things, the first blush of enthusiasm.
Just as with any kind of relationship, the best critique partnerships have to stand the test of time! :)
This has help me a lot and given me a new outlook on just what a writer wants in life. A fresh pair of eyes can be very helpful.
Thank you TL,
Best wishes
Annie
Hi, Annie! I'm so glad you enjoyed the post and found it helpful! Best of luck with your writing, my friend. :)
Thank GOD I have a CP who is ALL THAT and more ;)
AI YI YI!!! Wylie, you're BACK!
*~*~*happy dance, happy dance*~*~*
I'm getting my butt to your blog! :-D
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